自慢

• Reading: じまん
• Romaji: jiman
• Kanji breakdown: 自 (ji) — self; 慢 (man) — pride, conceit, lazy
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.maɴ/

Meaning

Pride; boasting. Talking proudly about one's own achievements or possessions.

A する verb (自慢する — to boast/brag) and a no-adjective (自慢の — prized). Can be positive (自慢の息子 — a son to be proud of) or negative (自慢ばかりする — always bragging). In Japanese culture, excessive 自慢 is seen as poor manners, though pride in family or work is natural.

Examples

1. 彼はいつも自分の車を自慢している。 He's always bragging about his car.
2. うちの母の自慢の料理はカレーだ。 My mom's signature dish that she's proud of is curry.
3. 自慢するつもりはないが、テストで一番だった。 I don't mean to brag, but I scored the highest on the test.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, family, social situations

Tone: casual

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (ji, self) and 慢 (man, pride/conceit). Literally 'self-pride' — the act of speaking highly of oneself.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal